As a student-athlete with a full schedule, I know how busy the school year can get with homework, almost daily sports practices, and even work shifts. With the busy nature of high school, especially during the second semester, it can be easy not to prioritize clean eating.
It’s quick to order fast food from DoorDash (something I am extremely guilty of) or snag that bag of chips sitting in the pantry, especially when you don’t have enough time to make a meal before practice or school. One of the best ways to combat the deterioration of clean-eating habits when life seemingly moves too fast is to meal prep. Although a lot of foods can be enjoyed in moderation, eating nutritious, balanced meals helps productivity and overall health.
Taking the time before the week to make some healthy meals you can enjoy all week helps encourage good eating habits while reducing weekday stress. Here are my favorite recipes to make for a stressful week ahead.
Raspberry Chia Seed Yogurt
This chia seed yogurt with mashed raspberries is by far my favorite meal to prep for an upcoming week (although even a double batch normally only lasts me a few days), and it is one of the best yogurt combinations I’ve tried. With a Greek yogurt base providing around 16 grams of protein per serving, combined with fresh raspberries and high-antioxidant, nutrient-rich chia seeds, this yogurt is healthy and delicious. I often make a double batch and top a serving off with a drizzle of honey and some fresh raspberries.
Pure Greek yogurt is one of the best foods for quick protein, and with the added texture of the chia seeds and the flavor from raspberries (or any blended fruit you want), it becomes elevated and appetizing. This recipe will always be a staple in my fridge and my number one pre-game snack.
High-Protein Peanut Butter Cups
One of my favorite things to make if I’m craving a slightly sweet snack is this high-protein peanut butter cup recipe. With around eight to ten grams of protein per serving, these peanut butter cups are made with protein powder and organic peanut butter, and can be topped with dark chocolate for added sweetness and a crunchy top layer. Although they might not make the best pre-game snack as some other food options, these peanut butter cups are a delicious “Reese’s knock off” that still helps you get protein in a low-sugar way.
Container Salads
Finally, one of my favorite snacks after school is a container salad. Prepping salads by adding lettuce or kale, cherry tomatoes, chicken, cucumbers, or any other salad topping into a small container is a great way to pre-make salads. All you have to do is add some dressing, and it’s an on-the-go meal. You can also buy container salad subscriptions at Gardencup, but it’s just as easy to make them at home with any spare containers. The best part of container salads is that you can make them exactly the way you like, and you can add pasta, rice, or any other base besides lettuce.
All of these options are great ways to ensure quick, available snacks for any student or athlete to boost performance, energy, and nutrition, while still tasting delicious. Meal-prepping is a cheat code for busy weeks running smoother and having good-for-you meals for the whole week ahead. These three meals are a few of the best meals to prep.
